Posted 2/20/2017 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
My first biologic was remicade and i had a 2.5 year remission on it. Would've been longer but i removed all other meds but remicade and had a minor flare as a consequence. I added the others back and have recovered and am close to reentering a remission. Lesson learned lol.
The cancer odds are less than 1 percent and it applies mostly to adolescent males concurrently on a biologic and immunomodulator (imuran/azathioprine or 6mp). Of those who get cancer, 66 percent are able to put it into remission. Odds are you won't get it, and odds are those who do get it are put in remission. It's essentially a monitoring thing, bloodwork and making sure your lymph nodes aren't swollen.
The mesalamines have rare side effects like blood abnormalities, liver damage, and inflammation of the heart, kidneys, and liver. Yet it's these biologics that scare everyone spitless...